Printing press



June 21, 1938. W E 2,121,308

PRINTING PRESS Filed May 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 0m 0022, 5 BY A ATTORNEYS 8. WALE PRINTING PRESS June 21, 1938.

FiledMay 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR 011ml 0022 BY 6 "M w W ATTORNEYS Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFlCE PRINTING mass Application May 22, 1934, Serial No. 726,875

26 Claims.

This invention relates to printing-presses of rotary type and consists in material-feeding apparatus organized with the press itself and operating automatically as the press continues in 5 operation, to carry the material through the press. The apparatus, of simplest structure, is not liable to get out of order, nor to interfere with the free and normal operation of the press upon the material.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a rotary printing-press having, organized with it, the material-feeding apparatus of my invention. Fig. II is a fragmentary view to smaller scale, showing in plan from above the impression member of the press and instrumentalities associated with it for effecting and controlling the infeeding of the material. Figs. III and IV are views in transverse section of the assembly of Fig. II, the planes of section being indicated, severally, by the broken lines III-III-and IV-IV, Fig. II. Fig. V is a diagrammatic view in vertical and transverse section through the press, the plane of section being indicated at V-V, Fig. II. Fig. VI is a similar view on the plane VI-VI, Fig. II. The scale to which Figs. III-VI are drawn is yet smaller than that of Fig. II.

Fig. VII is a plan view of a printing plate with marginal bands in relief.

'30 Fig. VIII is an enlarged cross section taken 'on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. VII.

The press includes aprinting roller I, bearing upon its surfacea printing plate la, and a cooperating impression member, ordinarily a roller 2, bearing upon its surface a tympan paper, 2a. These two rollers are positively driven at equal surface speeds and in :opposite directions. As here shown, and as indicated by arrows, the direction of rotation of printing roller lis counterclockwise; that of impression roller 2 is clockwise. f The paper, (or other sheet) to be printed (5', S is fed from left tonight; and, as it passes betweenthe rollers, impression roller 2 sustains it while printing roller I, equipped with inked typeicr the equivalentl eifects printing, andthesurfaces of the two rollers, at their commonvpoint of tangency, cooperate ,to grip and hold theysheetand to a dvan cefit evenly and. straight. Adjacent. impression roller 2 and on and cooperating ,with rollers l and .2 on the delivery side are arranged sheet delivery guides .5 and 5a. an d,delivery rollers 39 and ;39 a.

The paper support on thebintak e sideof; the press consists of or includes a bar, to which the the intake side is arrangedapaper support '3;

numeral I horizontally and transversely with respect to the horizontally-extending impression roller 2, and approaching roller 2 near the crest of its curvature. As a refinement, this support may be compound: an upper component platform or shelf 3| affords a surface upon which the paper immediately rests and over which it advances to the feeding apparatus. Shelf 3| is adjustably secured to bar 3, as by set-screws 32, and its position relatively to roller 2 may be minutely varied.

In the drawings I show a single supporting bar; and, for work of the dimensions. primarily contemplated (sheets of commercial letter paper, of a length of about eleven inches), a single supporting bar two inches wide, more or less, will suffice; but it is manifest that, for sheets of less stiffness or of greater breadth, it may be found desirable to employ a plurality of such bars, suitablyspaced longitudinally of the impression roller 2.

At the end that is proximate to roller 2, the bar 3 is slightly inclined upwardly and terminates in a ledge 33, adapted to constitute a stop for a sheet (as of paper) S that is laid upon shelf 3| and then advanced in left-to-right direction. A flap or vane 34 is hinged to bar 3 and normally rests by gravity upon the upper face of bar 3 adjacent ledge 33. The proportions are such that normally the flap lies prone upon bar 3, and ledge 33 is so proportioned that it then stands above the surface of the flap and is effective to act as a stop for a sheet of paper or other material advancing over shelf 3| and flap 34 as well.

The impression roller 2 carries a projecting pin 2!; and the. organization is such that with each rotation of roller 2 the pin 2!! cooperates with flap 3, to swing the flap upward, and in so doing to raise a sheet of paper or other material. to be printed that rests upon it, and to free the sheet from abutment upon ledge 33. This ;cooperative action is coordinated ,with the action of other parts yet to be described; and. to such end, the ledge 33 is notched, and flap 34' is provided with a narrow extension 35 that normally, when theflap lies prone upon bar: 3, rests within. the. notch. The pin 2| is in its placement upon roller 2 aligned with extension 35. .As roller 2 turns, the pin advances through the notch in bar- 3, e gages the extension 35, raises the flap 3t, and holds the flap in raised position untilthe sheet'has passed ledge 33. Thus for a suificient interval the sheet is lifted 3 is immediately applied, extending free of ledge 33, and, engaged by other cooperating instrumentalities, it is carried forward, over the rim of the ledge and on to the pass where printing is effected. After a brief interval of advance the pin 2| passes beyond the end of extension 35. and at once the flap 34 falls back under gravity, leaving ledge 33 effective as a stop for the next advancing sheet of material.

The roller 2 is additionally equipped with outstanding pins 22 which project through rubber pads 36. Ordinarily two or more pins 22 are provided, arranged in longitudinal line. The pin 2| is blunt ended, and serves as described to swing the flap 34. Pins 22 are sharp, and their function is to pierce sheets of the material to be printed and, with the aid of pads 36, to carry the material forward to the pass between rollers I and 2, where printing is effected. Two pins 22 and pads 36 will ordinarily be placed toward the ends of roller 2; and, in the arrangement here shown, with a single bar 3 arranged midway the length of roller 2, two pins and pads will suffice. The number, however, may be altered, to meet the need in particular circumstances. With the minor qualifications presently to be noted, pins'22 and pads 36 are aligned with pin 2|.

Bars 4, corresponding in number and in position to pins 22 and pads 36, extend horizontally and transversely of the extent of roller 2. The position of bars 4 may be minutely adjusted in vertical direction for different thicknesses of material to be printed. Like bar 3, bars 4 are arranged on the ascending side of roller 2, slightly below the level of the top of ledge 33, and near the crest of roller curvature. The lower surfaces of bars 4 are smooth and lie in a plane that is approximately coincident with, though slightly higher than, that of the upper surface of shelf 3|; to the end that the sheet that is being advanced into the press, extending in an approximately horizontal plane, advances over shelf 3| but beneath bars 4. The bars 4 extend to close proximity to the surface of roller 2 and their proximate ends are in substantial alignment with the end of bar 3. The bars 4 afford support from above for the material. They are arranged adjacent the path of the pins 22 borne by the impression roller, and they afford backing'for the material when the pins make engagement with and impale the material. To such end bars 4 are notched at their ends, as indicated at 4|; and the organization is such that the paths of the pins 22 borne by the roller 2 extend through these notches. As the roller 2 turns, the pins 22 pierce the sheet of paper that lies in position beneath bars 4, and the rubber pads 36 come to engagement upon the nether surface of the sheet, aiding the pins to effect an immediate forward movement of the sheet, and guarding against the tearing of the sheet.

The flap 34, the notches 4|, the pin 2|, the pins 22, and the rubber pads 36 are so particularly shaped and proportioned and arranged longitudinally of the roller 2 that the pins 22 and the pads 36 engage and pierce the sheet at the very instant when the rising flap 34 has lifted the sheet free of the ledge 33. The turning roller 2 then carries the impaled sheet forward.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 13,461, filed March 28, 1935, I have explained that upon the printing roller a flexible printing plate I a is removably clamped, and it will be understood that, correspondingly, upon the impression roller 2 a tympan 2a may similarly be secured.

The continuity of the printing roller is interrupted as at 6 for securing of the printing plate upon the roller, and similarly the continuity of the impression roller may be interrupted as at to permit the securing of the tympan in place. These regions of interruption 6 and 1 afford opportunity for the placement of the pins 2| and 22. The pins will be outstanding, beyond the effective surface of the tympan-faced roller 2, and the region 6 of the printing roller may, throughout the extent of the length of the roller, or for such extent as is advantageous, be recessed, so that the outstanding pins will not be disturbed in the pass between the rollers.

On each rotation of roller 2 these same coordinated operations are repeated: that is to say, if the sheet of material to be printed is of such length as to require four rotations of roller 2 to 1 carry it through the press, flap 34 will rise four times, the pins 22 will pierce the sheet four times, and pads 36 will engage the sheet four times. In addition to the four operations which will so take place on one sheet, the same operation will take place a fifth time, if the sheet is of such length as to exceed four times the circumference of the roller; and if in the succession of sheets the forward end of a succeeding sheet and the rear end of a preceding sheet are caused to lap at the instant when the pins 22 become effective, the two sheets will temporarily be pinned to each other in such lapped positions, and in such assembly will be carried forward. A sheet that has been raised free of ledge 33 will continue to lie upon and to pass freely over ledge 33 as it continues to advance. If in the case supposed, of a sheet of a length slightly exceeding four times the circumference of the roller, during the last of the four rotations of the roller, a new sheet be advanced over shelf 3| and flap 34 until its forward edge abuts upon ledge 33, it will be taken up, when again the roller-borne pins 22 and pads 36 come to cooperation with bars 4.

By this method sheets of any length may be used, whether multiples of the circumferential extent of roller 2 or not; care being required only to advance a new sheet to abut upon ledge 33 during the last rotation of the roller 2 with respect to the preceding sheet (which is the sheet actually in the process of being printed). By this method a succession of separate sheets of paper may be carried through the press as though they were indeed a single continuous sheet, and all the benefit and advantage of continuous-web feeding may be enjoyed.

It is manifest that length of sheet and circumference of printing roller may vary, absolutely and relatively. If the printing roller'carries but a single printing area, the impression roller need be equipped with no more than a single line of pins 22. With each rotation of the roller another sheet may then be introduced and carried through the press. The succeeding sheets may 'or may not lap: this will depend upon whether the sheets in length exceed the circumferential extent of the printing roller. If the sheets are of a length twice as great as the circumference of the printing roller, they may be introduced, one for every two rotations of the roller; if the sheets are of a length three times the circumference of the roller, they may be introduced, one for every three rotations, and so on. These longer sheets, bearing two, three, or more repetitions of the print, may subsequently be sheared to form two, three, or more separate sheets.

The printing roller may carry a plurality of printing areas or plates, and a corresponding plurality of lines of pins 22, and in such case,

the individual sheets.

If the sheets be carried through the press in overlapped positions, the delivery rollers 39, 39a.

may be driven at superficial speed greater than 7 that of rollers l and 2. The lapped sheets will then be separated and advanced in usual sue cession to the jogging apparatus.

The pin-pricks, whether at the ends only or at intermediate points in the extent of the sheet, are of such slight effect as ordinarily to be negligible; but if for particular uses such pin-pricks are deemed objectionable, provision being made accordingly, the pin-pricked portions of the sheets may be trimmed away.

The usual apparatus for feeding separate sheets to a rotary press includes grippers for clamping the forward edge of the sheet to the impression cylinder and holding and pulling it throughout the entire period 01 impression. The presence and operation of the grippers, on the presses now in use, makes necessary a considerable spacing apart of successive sheets. By the elimination of such grippers, I am able (other I things being equal) to effect corresponding reas in the rotogravure process.

duction in the dimension of the rollers and to increase greatly their peripheral speed. Moreover, the elimination of such grippers permits the printing of a plurality of duplicate images on a single sheet as before described, it being remembered that in the present press the individual sheets are advanced through the press solely by virtue of the cooperative action of the impression and printing rollers. This feature likewise contributes to greater speed of operation of the press, as also does the capability of feeding individual sheets between the rollers in continuous or endless procession.

There are, at present, three methods of rotary printing in common commercial usageprinting from relief type or its equivalent, printing from a planographic plate by means of an offset cylinder, andprinting from intaglio plates In printing from relief type or its equivalent, the difference in height at which the printing areas stand as compared .to the height at which thenon-printing areas must of necessity stand, in relation to the centre or axis of the cylinder, is so great and pronounced that it is not practicable to rely upon the. engagement of the type or its equivalent cause grippers are unsatisfactory, there are few sheet-fed relief rotary printing presses in=use. 4, But roll-fed presses (that is, to. say, presses through which the paper advances in continuous web) are inouse, because of the/economy to be ,enjoyed through rotary printing. such presses, in lieu of gripper fingers,' pulling and tension rollers are provided on the intake and on thedelivery sidesof the impression cylinder,

and throughout a considerable. arc the" paper is wrapped upon the fimpr'ession cylinder.

In printing from planographic plates by means of a rubber offset cylinder, sheet' material is ad cepted by the delivery guides 5 and 5a.

vanced between the offset cylinder and the impression cylinder. The surfaces of both these cylinders are smooth. Grippers are used to clamp the forward edge of the sheet to the impression cylinder and to hold and pull the sheet throughout the entire period of impression. The material to be printed by presses of this type must be well seasoned, in order that there shall be no appreciable curl or wave; for, if there be such curl or wave, the material will, when passing between the two smooth surfaces, become creased. It is manifest that if grippers were not employed, and the sheets were allowed to travel through by means of the traction created by the two surfaces, this creasing would be more pronounced. In printing upon discontinuous sheets from intaglio plates, the same necessity for grippers exists. In the two latter processesplanographic and intaglic plate--roll-feed is accomplished in the same manner as in relief printing.

It will be perceived of the machine of my invention that in it all the advantages of the feed of a'continuous web or strip from a reel to a rotary press are combined with all the advantages of the feed of discontinuous single sheets to an intermittently operating press.

It is characteristic of my invention that the pins and rubber pads which cause the sheet to advance into the press at the precise instant desired do not hold the sheet while the impression is being made. Immediately after they have carried the sheet to the point where the printing is done they cease to be effective upon it, since at that time the sheet has been inter- The surfaces of the printing and impression rollers then become the gripper to hold, pull, and advance the sheet during the entire period of impression. In reality, therefore, the two revolving rollers, at their point of tangency, are the grippers, and the pins 22 and pads 36 are merely feeding mechanism that becomes ineffective while the gripping function of the rollers continues.

In certain extreme cases of irregular and uneven distribution of printing and non-printing areas, it is desirable (in the practice of my invention) to have, in addition to the requisite printing area, a single continuous line in relief on each end of the plate, running circumferentially of the printing roller. These lines are so placed that they will print on the extreme edges of the sheets and can subsequently be trimmed ofi. This provision will insure straight and even passage of the material through the press. If it is desirable that these lines should not accept ink and consequently print, they may be kept mois-' tened by laying a damp sponge against them as the roller revolves, rendering them repellant of ink; or, to the same end, they may be treated ,With quicksilver, which can be replenished periodically as required. An example of a printing plate with these terminal or marginal lines is given in Figs. VII and VIII, and here it will be observed that the plate la is one designed for head-letter work, presenting as it does a relief printing image lc'which occupies a very small area on-the printing plate. In such cases, it is desirable to form on the "plate, as shown, two

fashion. In the use of such plate, as will now be clear, the two marginal bands Id will enable the printing and impression rollers to maintain their grip on the sheets in advancing them through the press notwithstanding any interruption or lack of continuity in the printing surface. Of course, the exact location or extent of these relief bands or elements will depend essentially upon the nature and distribution of the printing area, the point being to enable the printing and impression rollers by their mutual form or relation to advance the sheet between them in the manner before described. Later on, reference will be made to a feature which contemplates an arrested advance of the paper through the press, which feature involves a momentary discontinuance of the gripping action of the impression and printing rollers on the paper, and by way of anticipation it may be stated here that when such an arrested advance is desired, the marginal bands Id will be discontinued at the proper point on the printing plate to provide for the necessary discontinuance of the gripping action.

To the roll-feed presses of common use, with their tension rollers and their are of wrap" upon the impression cylinder, the press of my invention stands contrasted. In my press no aid is required: the relief of the printing surfaces of the plate of my prior application named above is so slight that by the cooperation of the roll ers the sheet will be carried through evenly and straight. .In the great majority of cases, the printing areas and the non-printing areas alike (regardless of the irregularity or unevenness of the form or pattern) advance the sheet, and of course in such cases the marginal bands above referred to need not be used.

When my press is compared with the planographic and intaglio presses, the contrast is plain. The material in these presses must be seasoned and flat to avoid creasing. The plate of my invention (unlike the printing surfaces of the presses just mentioned) is not smooth: There is suflicient difference in height between the printing areas and the non-printing areas to permit the material that is being printed to flow and adjust itself without creasing even though it be not seasoned. For this reason, long sheets of material may be advanced through my press in an approximately horizontal or level plane, and no mechanical grippers to hold the material are necessary and no arc of wrap upon the impression roller is required.

In the use of such clamping fingers as I have alluded to, automatically operating opening and closing mechanism is involved, and this automatic mechanism is a drag and an embarrassment in the speeding up of the press. The press, although otherwise capable of faster rotation, is practically held down to the maximum speed at which the gripping mechanism will function. In the realization of my invention this limitation is avoided, and the press may be speeded up at will. At the same time, the periodic placement of successive sheets upon the bar 3 and against the ledge 33 is not embarrassed by too great haste.

In the use of clamping fingers, the sheet must be held throughout the period of impression, and it therefore follows that the material being printed must be sufliciently pliable to bend around the impression cylinder. In the realization of my invention this limitation is avoided. The material being printed travels through the press in a horizontal plane.

In combination with the apparatus for feeding sheet material already described, either or both of the two devices illustrated in Figs. V and VI may be employed.

In Figs. II and V means are shown whereby each sheet as it advances to the press may be caused to draw the next succeeding sheet up to abutment upon ledge 33 and leave it in such position. An abutment, conveniently adjustable, and embodied in the rounded end of a. set-screw 31, carried in the framework of the press, cooperates with a roller 38, rotatably mounted in the framework of the press, and defines a passageway for the advancing material of a width approximately equal to the thickness of two superposed sheets of paper to be printed.

In Fig. V the sheet of material S is shown, actually in process of being printed, and therefore in motion through the press; and a succeeding sheet of material S is also shown. At the proper time in relation to the progress of sheet S, an attendant advances sheet S under sheet S and into the passageway between screw 31 and roller 38 (the gap or space between the two having been previously adjusted for the thickness of the particular material to be printed). The forward movement of sheet S is then effective to carry sheet S forward until it abuts upon ledge 33 of bar 3. The end of sheet S will advance from the passageway between screw 31 and roller 38 at approximatelythe instant when the forward edge of sheet S abuts upon the ledge 33, and thereupon the sheet S, brought to position, will lie where it is, awaiting the advance of pins 22.

In the operation of this device, the normal actions of the ,parts already described will not be interfered with or altered in any way. This device may or may not be employed, as desired.

In Fig. VI means are shown whereby material to be printed upon (whether in the form of a continuous web or in the form of one of a succession of short sheets) may be intermittently held stationary, relatively to the rotating printing roller, and then subsequently and at the proper point in the course of roller rotation released, for engagement by pins 22,-this without altering in any manner the speed or continuous rotation of the printing roller. An abutment, conveniently adjustable, and embodied in the tip of a set-screw 42, carried in the framework of the press, cooperates with the face 44 of a crank 43 to clamp intermittently the sheet of material S and hold it immovable while the rollers continue to rotate. The crank 43 is borne by a shaft 45 that is rotatably mounted in the framework. The impression" roller 2"carries removably an arc-shaped strip 43 that gives to the roller a localized enlargement in size. This strip is in its position and extent (relatively to the tympan paper 2a) suited to the particular job in hand. The set-screw 42, the crank 43, and the strip 43 are aligned and are placed at the prolonged end of roller 2, and beyond and clear of the end of printing roller I. The strip 43, engaging crank 43, swings it and clamps an interlying sheet S between the surface 44 and the tip of set-screw 42; and this clamping occurs during a predetermined portion of each rotation of roller 2.

The printing surface of the plate Ia, which latter is removably fastened to printing roller I, does not in this instance completely encircle roller I. A blank or non-printing portion lb remains.

lid

till

n impression roller 2 impressional packing 2b, composed of sheets of material of sufficient combined thickness to bring the surface of tympan paper 2a to the proper height for proper printing of plate la on roller I, extends upon roller 2 through an arc corresponding to that of plate la upon roller I. A sheet or two of this packing (2b) is omitted from the area which corresponds to the blank or nonprinting area lb of plate la, thereby decreasing the diameter of the compound roller 2 throughout that particular arc, the roller 2 being ineffective through that are to cooperate with roller I and pull the sheet S through the press. During that part of the rotation of rollers l and 2 when the area lb faces the area upon which strip 46 lies, the clamping. device described will close upon and continue closed upon the sheet S and will hold it firmly in a fixed position while the rollers continue in rotation. When these areas recede the clamping device opens, to release and free material S. This may be organized to occur at the precise instant when pins 22 arrive at notches 4| (Fig. IV), in order to engage and impale material S and to advance it to the press.

In the operation of this device, the operation of other parts already described will not be altered or interfered with in any way; and, again, the operator may use this device or not, as he desires, it being necessary only to remove strip it from the surface of roller 2 and replace the omitted area of packing in, to restore continuity of feed.

These ancillary devices for the control of the movement of the paper and consisting, one of them, of screw til and roller it, and the other of screw ir and crank tt, may be duplicated throughout the width of the sheet in as many such devices as are required-a matter dependent on the width and weight of the sheet. It will be understood that one strip tit sumces to swing shaft and that the cranhs till upon shaft til may be as many as desired.

To illustrate the use of this intermittent action on sheet material:

With printing and impression rollers of suincient circumferential extent for the printing with each revolution of a sheet 8%), inches in ertent, I may feed into the press a sheet 34 inches in length and make upon it four impressions suitable for four separate sheets 8 inches in extent. This is accomplished while the sheet advances in continuous course. If, however, it is desired to print a sheet 34: inches in length, but

with impressions suitable for five sheets 6% inches in extent, I may, by use of the intermitting apparatus of Fig. VI, arrest the sheet with each rotation of the impression roller 2 during a range of turning of say 1%, inches. Thus the adaptability of the press to varying work specirlcations is increased.

When operating the press of my invention upon material of indefinite length continuously fed in, instead of upon material in the form of a succession of short sheets .of definite length, pin lit is removed, and flap it lies idle, prone upon bar 3. The material is advanced over the top of ledge it into and through the press and guides t and c. Rollers t9 and 39a may then be removed and rotary shears may be installed in their place, to cut the advancing material to the desired lengths. Rotary shears so situated and so operating are well known and re-= quire no illustration. Pins 22, being retained,

perform the duty described of feeding the material to the press.

With-printing and impression rollers of sufflcient circumferential extent for the printing with each revolution of 8 inches of material, I may cause the material .to advance continuously through the press and subsequently out t he material into 8 inch lengths. If, however, it is desired to cut the material into 6% inch lengths, I may, by use of the intermitting apparatus herein outlined, arrest the material during the interval of 1% inches of each rotation of the rollers.

By the use of "this ancillary device, a succession of prints of any length not greater than the circumference of roller I may be printed without waste and upon material fed to the press in a continuous web of indefinite length.

In the enjoyment of my invention, the number of printed images per sheet of paper is not governed, as heretofore it has been, by the number of forms on the printing surface, but by the number of rotations of the printing roller to each sheet-length. That is to say, given a sheet three feet long, the only way hitherto known to print three successive impressions upon it was to use a printing roller of three feet or more in circumference, bearing three printing images; but with my invention, a printing roller of a circumference of approximately one foot may be caused to deliver three impressions upon the I ery. Suppose, for example, a letter-head is to be printed in the quantity of a million prints. In a press employing the invention of my co-pending application alluded to, the printing roller may be reduced to a circumference of eight and one half inches. The paper-feeding apparatus of this invention is organized with the impression roller, and sheets of paper thirty-four inches long and eleven inches wide are used. Four revolutions of the printing roller are made to each sheet, and each revolution makes one complete imprint or image. Lacking my inventions (and the present invention is an important factor in the success), such an order could be turned out in comparable time only by a small roll-fed press (with inferiority in quality), or by the provision of large and heavy presses carrying a multiplicity of forms, each form operating to print a fraction of the whole number of letter-heads required.

It will be perceived how greatly the provision that I make for carrying the paper to and through the press differs from that commonly employed. In the progress of press operation, employing my invention, and employing sheets of paper of the relative dimensions that I prefer, the succeeding sheets are temporarily pinned one to another, and the effect is that of a'continuous web of paper advancing through the press. No grippers clamp the paper to the impression roller (as is requisite in the feed apparatus heretofore used for discontinuous sheets), but the tractive eifect of the cooperating printing and impression rollers sumces; at the same time the pins an impression roller equipped with an outstanding impaling pin, and a bar extending transversely of the impression roller and into proximity to the face of the impression roller on the rising side thereof and adapted to constitute a support from above for material to be printed upon, the said bar being so placed as to afford its support to the material adjacent the point at which as the impression roller turns the impaling pin comes to engagement with the material.

2. In a rotary printing-press, a printing roller,

. an impression roller equipped with an outstand- "ing impailing pin, and a bar extending transversely of the impression roller and into proximity to the face of the impression roller on the rising side thereof and adapted to constitute a support from above for material to be printed upon, the said bar being provided at the end adjacent the roller face with a slot, and the organization being such that the path of the roller-borne impaling pin extends through such slot.

3. In a rotary printing-press, a printing roller, an impression roller equipped with an outstanding yielding abutment and an impaling pin, and a bar extendingtransversely of the impression roller and into proximity to the face of the impression roller on the rising side thereof and adapted to-constitute a support from above for material to be printed upon, the said bar being adapted to support the material adjacent the point at which as the impression roller turns the roller-borne impaling pin makes engagement with the material, and the said abutment adapted as the roller turns to come to frictional engagement upon the bar-supported material.

4. In a rotary printing-press the combination of a printing roller, an impression roller equipped with a sheet-impaling pin, a bar adapted to support a sheet of material to be printed, extending transversely of the impression roller and extending into proximity to the face of the impression roller on the rising side of the roller when in normal rotation, the said bar at the end adjacent the roller face being provided with a stop, a second bar extending transversely of the impression roller and into proximity to the face of the roller on the rising side thereof, the second bar being spaced above the first at an interval permissive of the interposition of a sheet of material, the second bar being so placed as toaflord its support to the material adjacent the point at which as the impression roller turns the impaling pin comes to engagement with the sheet of material, and means rendered efiective by press rotation for efieoting release of a supported sheet from said stop.

5. In a rotary printing-press, a printing roller bearing medially in relief a printing surface and marginally in relief a substantially continuous band, an impression roller adapted by its cooperation with such printing roller both to eifect printing upon material advancing through the pass between the rollers and to effect such advance, and roller-borne means adapted intermittently to make engagement with material at a point adjacent said pass and carry it into said pass.

6. In a rotary printing press the combination of a printing roller, an impression member, and sheet-feeding means including a throat or gullet defined on one side by a feed roller, such throat or gullet being of a width of substantially double the thickness of the material to be printed,

"whereby when a sheet of material is in progress through the gullet and to the press a second sheet introduced to the gullet and engaged by the feed roller will by the traction of the first sheet be carried forward through the gullet.

7. In a rotary printing-press, the combination of a printing roller having a printing area occupying a portion of the circumferential area of the roller and a non-printing area occupying another portion of the circumferential area of the roller, an impression roller adapted in cooperation with the printing area of the printing roller to advance material through the pass between said rollers and adapted to cease said advance when the non-printing area of the printing roller comes into play, a clamp for selectively halting material to be printed, and means associated with one of the rollers for rendering said clamp effective during the interval of advance of the non-printing area of the printing roller through the said pass.

8. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller, an impression roller, means for supporting a sheet of material with its leading end immediately adjacent the pass formed by and between the two rollers, a stop whereby said sheet may be accurately positioned on the supporting means, means for releasing the sheet from the stop, and means mounted stationarily on one of the rollers and adapted in the operation of the press to pick up the leading end of the released sheet while at rest on its supporting means and carry it directly into said roller pass.

9. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller, an impression roller, means for supporting a sheet of material with its leading end immediately adjacent the pass formed by and between the two rollers, a stop whereby said sheet may be accurately positioned on the supporting means, means for releasing the sheet from the stop, and an impaling pin carried by one of the rollers and adapted in the operation of the press to pick up the leading end of the released sheet while at rest on its supporting means and carry it directly into said roller pass.

10. In a rotary printing press, the combination of printing means and impression means, said means acting during a printing impression to advance material through the pass formed by them solely by their contact therewith, and said means being mutually formed or related to break such advancing contact with the material through a partial movement of the means, and means to positively arrest the travel of said material during said partial movement of said printing and impression means.

11. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller and an impression roller, said rollers acting during a printing impression to advance material through the pass formed by them solely by their contact therewith. said rollers being mutually formed or related to break such advancing contact with the material through a partial rotation of the rollers so as momentarily to arrest the travel of the material after a printing impression, and P sitive means carried by one of the rollers to initiate the movement of the material prior to the time when the rollers reestablish their advancing contact therewith for another printing impression.

12. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller, animpression roller, and means whereby sheets of material may-be fed into the pass formed by the two rollers in endless procession or like a continuous web, said means including a stop to abut the leading edges of the successive sheets and thus locate the sheets in a definite position of rest before they enter the roller pass, and a roller-borne element operative by press rotation to engage the leading edge of any sheet abutted by the stop and carry it from its position of rest into the roller pass.

13. In a rotary printing press, the combination of 'a printing roller, an impression roller, means for feeding separate sheets to the rollers, said means permitting a following sheet and a preceding sheet to lap, and means operative by said lapping to cause the preceding sheet in its travel to move the following sheet behind it.

14. In a rotary printing'press, the combination of a printing roller, an impression roller, means for guiding separate sheets to the rollers, said means permitting a following sheet to lap a preceding sheet, means whereby'the preceding sheet in its passage through the rollers will drag the following sheet behind i't,-a stop to arrest the advancing movement of the following sheet before it enters between the rollers, and means carried by one of the rollers and adapted to pick up the leading end of said following sheet after means for feeding a succession of separate sheets, each longer than the circumference of the impression roller, into the pass formed by the rollers for a plurality of duplicate printing impressions upon each successive sheet, said means including'a stop to abut the leading edges of the successive sheets and thus locate the sheets in a definite position of rest before they enter the roller pass, and a roller-borne'element operative by press rotation to engage the leading edge of any sheet abutted by the stop and carry it from its position of rest into the roller pass.

16. In a rotary printing-press the combination of a printing roller, an impression roller equipped with a sheet-impallng pin, means for supporting a sheet of material on the rising side of the normally rotating impression roller, a stop whereby a sheet may be accurately placed on the supporting means, and means periodically operating by press rotation for effecting release of the sheet of material from the stop, said sheet-impaling pin beingso arranged on the impression roller as to engage the sheet of material the instant it is released from the stop and carry it from a position of rest into the pass between the impression roller and the printing roller.

17. In a rotary printing-press the combination of a printing roller, an impression roller equipped with a sheet-impaling pin, means for supporting a sheet of material on the rising side of the normally rotating impression roller, a stop whereby a sheet may be accurately placed on the supporting means, and means rendered effective by rotation of the impression roller for raising the edge of a supported sheet free of said stop, said sheet-impaling pin being so arranged on the impression roller as to engage the sheet of material the instant it is released from the stop and carry it from a position of rest into the pass between the impression roller and the printing roller.

18. In a rotary printing-press, the combination of a printing roller, an impression roller, rollerborne means for carrying material into the pass formed by and between the two rollers, said rollers by their mutual cooperation being operative during a portion of each rotation of the printing roller to advance the material through said pass after the roller-borne means cease stop whereby the sheet of material may be accurately placed in a position of rest on the supporting means, means operating periodically to effect the release of the sheet of material from the stop, and sheet-engaging means arranged to engage the released sheet of material and move it from its position of rest on the supporting means into the pass formed byand between the printing roller and the impression roller, said rollers by their mutual cooperation being operative as an independent unit to advance the sheet of material through said pass after the sheet-engaging means ceases to be effective upon the sheet.-

20. In a rotary printing-press, the combination of a single printing roller equipped with a relief printing plate and with means for holding it under tension thereon, a single impression roller cooperating with the printing roller, means for supporting a sheet of material on one side of the impression roller, a stop whereby the sheet of material may be accurately placed in a position of rest on the supporting means, means operating periodically to effect the release of the sheet of material from the stop, and sheetcngaging means arranged to engage the released sheet of material and forward it from its position of rest on the supporting means into the pass formed by and between the printing roller and the impression roller, the two said rollers constituting means by their mutual cooperation during a printing impression to advance the sheet of material through the pass formed by said rollers, and said printing plate being of such thinness and flexibility as to conform accurately to the cylindrical surface of the printing roller under the action of its tensioning means and thus to present a cylindrical printing surface.

21. In a rotary printing-press, the combination of a single printing roller equipped with a relief printing plate and with means for holding it under tension thereon, a single impression roller cooperating with the printing roller, means for supporting a sheet of material on one side of the impression roller, a stop whereby the sheet of material may be accurately placed in a position of rest on the supporting means, means operating periodically to effect the release of the sheet of material from the stop, and sheetengaging means arrangedto engage the released sheet of material and move it from its position of rest on the supporting means into the pass formed by and between the printing roller and the impression roller, said printing plate having such a shallow depth of relief as to enable the printing and impression rollers during a printing impression to constitute means to advance the sheet of material through the pass formed by them, and said plate also being of such thinness and flexibility as to conform accurately to the cylindrical surface of the printing roller under the action of its tensioning means and thus to present a cylindrical printing surface.

22. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller and an impression roller forming a printing couple, means for positioning separate sheets to be fed to said rollers, and means cooperating with said positioning means to engage the tail of one sheet and the head of a succeeding sheet whereby said sheets lap in passing through said couple.

23. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller and an impression roller forming a printing couple, means for positioning separate sheets to be fed to said rollers, and roller-borne means cooperating with said positioning means to engage the tail of one sheet and the head of a succeeding sheet whereby said sheets lap in passing through said couple.

24. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller equipped with a relief printing plate and with means for holding it under tension thereon, and an impression roller cooperating with said printing plate, said impression roller and said plate constituting means by their mutual cooperation during a printing impression to advance material through the pass formed by said rollers, said impression roller and said plate being mutually formed or related to break said advancing contact with the material through a partial movement of said impression roller and plate, and means to positively arrest the travel of said material during said partial movement of said impression roller and said printing plate.

25. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller and an impression roller forming a printing couple for successively printing a number of individual sheets, sheet positioning means for positioning each sheet prior to its passage through said printing couple, and means synchronized with said couple to render said sheet positioning means ineffective to permit movement of a sheet positioned thereby through said printing couple and to render said sheet positioning means effective to position a succeeding sheet while said first sheet is passing thereby.

26. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a printing roller and an impression roller forming a printing couple for successively printing a number of individual sheets, means for supporting a sheet of material on one side of said couple, stop means to accurately position said sheet of material on said supporting means during the progress of a preceding sheet through said couple, means synchronized with said couple to release said sheet from said stop, and means to engage said sheet and move it from said supporting means into said couple.

BRUCE WALE. 

